EP0168823B1

EP0168823B1 - Hydromassage nozzle

Info

Publication number: EP0168823B1
Application number: EP85108947A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Emanuele Villafranca Soissons
Original assignee: Jacuzzi Europe SpA
Current assignee: Jacuzzi Europe SpA
Priority date: 1984-07-17
Filing date: 1985-07-17
Publication date: 1992-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2005-07-17
Also published as: NO852843L; IT8422589V0; FR2567752A3; GR851766B; ES288124U; DE3585057D1; EP0168823A2; DE8520682U1; ES288124Y; FR2567752B3; ATE70967T1; EP0168823A3

Abstract

In a hydromassage nozzle are provided inclined planes for selfdrainage of the nozzle when it is inoperative and means for regulating the flowrate of the stream of water under pressure mixed with air passing through the constricted section of a venturi tube.

Description

The present invention relates to an improved hydromassage nozzle. It is known that hydromassage consists of striking the user's body immersed in a tub or pool with a stream of water under pressure mixed with air delivered by one or more nozzles mounted in the walls of the tub or pool.
Specifically, the water, while passing through a section shaped like a venturi tube, causes negative pressure which in turn causes suction of air which mixes intimately with the water.
The nozzles of known type are also equipped with systems which make them adjustable although within a rather limited angle, in such a manner as to direct the stream with the desired inclination onto the user's body. Such hydromassage nozzle is known from US-A-3 471 091.
A problem connected with the nozzles of known type is the problem of regulation, specifically of shutting off delivery of the stream from one nozzle, leaving in operation the other nozzles connected in the same water or air system. Indeed, when the water supply to a nozzle is completely closed there is often suction of water from the interior of the tub through the air suction duct of the nozzle in question.
GB-A-2 112 670 discloses a jet nozzle assembly comprising a check valve, which also generates the venturi effect.
While the valve is generally able to prevent water back flow, it is not always operating relyably since its closing effect relies on the pressure of water in a mixing chamber donwnstream at the valve, said valve having a complicated structure which also tends to be clogged up by dirt etc.. This problem is solved by a nozzle design as indicated in claim 1.
Another problem connected with known nozzles is stagnation of a certain quantity of water in the body of the nozzle during periods of inactivity, and this involves problems which need no further comment.
Another problem presented by nozzles of known type is that of easy disassemly for access to the internal parts for cleaning, maintenance and/or repair of failures.
It is another object of the present invention to resolve the problems and drawbacks mentioned briefly above, solutions being disclosed in the dependent claims.
According to another important aspect of the present invention said casing for housing said adjustable body and the flange which secures the nozzle to the wall of the tub or pool has a flared portion inclined toward the interior of the tub for unaided drainage of said nozzle.
These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the detailed description given below with reference to the annexed drawings wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a diametrical cross-section of the nozzle according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 with the components of the nozzle in a different operative position;
Fig. 3 is a cross-section which shows the adjustable body of the nozzle and Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a plan view from above and a sectional view along plane V-V of Fig. 4 of an optional component of the nozzle of Fig. 3.

It appears opportune to state that the nozzle illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 provides all the features peculiar to the present invention.
Referring therefore to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the nozzle according to the present invention comprises an adjustable body 10 which is seated in a casing 11 on which are provided in the same piece the unions 12 and 13, respectively with the duct for water under pressure and with the air suction duct.
The casing 11 is fixed to a wall 14 of the tub or pool (not shown) by means of a ring-nut 15 which engages by screwing an internal threaded part of the casing 11.
To secure the adjustable body 10 in an integral manner to the casing 11, there is provided an annular part 16 which engages by screwing a threaded portion 17 of said casing 11.
Pads 18, Preferably of rubber or some other flexible material, are integral with the annular part 16 for the purpose set forth below.
A nozzle cover 20 is in turn fixed to the annular part 16 with the screws 21 to mask aesthetically the flange 15 which fixes the nozzle.
On the bottom of the casing 11 at the air suction duct 13 there are provided support pads 22 for the adjustable body 10 made of rubber or some other flexible material for the purpose set forth below.
The adjustable body 10 illustrated in detail in Fig. 3 comprises a duct 23 shaped with a constricted section 24 like a venturi tube. On the outside of the duct 23 is mounted a sleeve 25 which forms a seat 26 in which is housed by threading a base 27 which bears as part of the same piece a duct 28 for air suction. The duct 28 extends in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 to close the constricted section 24 of the venturi tube, the watertightness of said closure being aided by an annular gasket 29. At the other end the duct 28 communicates with the air suction duct 13 through a hole 30 closed by a valve 31 which opens when there is negative pressure in the constricted section 24 of the venturi tube, shutting off air suction when there is no water under pressure passing through the venturi tube, i.e. in the conditions of Fig. 1.
Fig. 1 illustrates a valve 31 of the double-disk type while Fig. 3 illustrates a disk-type check valve with compression spring. It is clear that these arrangements are only illustrative and not limitative.
In the base 27 are also made apertures or windows 32 through which the interior of said base can communicate with the duct 12 which supplies water under pressure.
As appears clearly in the figures, both the base 27 and the sleeve 25 have rounded outer surfaces so that they can operate together with the pads 18 and 22, adjusting themselves with respect to the axis of the venturi tube with a maximum inclination of 15° and over the entire arc of 360°.
Fig. 1 also shows that the internal surface 19 of the casing 11 is inclined toward the outlet of the nozzle so that water cannot stagnate therin when the nozzle is not delivering the stream of water mixed with air.
The flange 15 also has a truncated-cone or tapered inner surface such as to comprise the continuation of the surface 19 and offer no obstructions to natural discharge or drainage of water.
As can be seen in Fig. 2 moving of the duct 23 along its axis toward the mouth of the nozzle frees an annular passage between the constricted section and the duct 28 so that the nozzle delivers the stream of water under pressure. The moving is adjustable and is secured by screwing and unscrewing the duct 23 with respect to the sleeve 25.
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate an auxiliary part 33 having a base 34 which couples with the outlet of the duct 23 and a tapered tip 35 with an outlet slot 36 which creates a fan-shaped stream which can cover a broader area to be subjected to hydromassage.

Claims

Hydromassage nozzle of the type comprising an adjustable body (10) with a central duct (23) shaped like a venturi tube, on the axis of which is arranged an air suction passage (28'), water under pressure entering transversely said central duct (23) upstream of the inlet of said central duct (23) so that passage of water under pressure through the constriction (24) of the central duct (23) causes suction of air which mixes intimately with said water under pressure in said central duct (23), the adjustable body (10) being housed in an adjustable manner around its own axis in a substantially cylindrical casing (11) open at both ends and fixed to the wall of the tub or pool in such way that the outlet of the central duct (23) is seated at the end turned toward the interior of the tub, while the other end puts said air suction passage (28') in communication with an air suction duct (13), there being provided in said cylindrical casing (11) at least one aperture for connecting a duct (12) supplying water under pressure, said air suction passage (28') consisting of an air duct (28) which penetrates the constricted section (24) of said central duct (23), said constricted section (24) being movable with respect to said air duct (28) thus forming a ring shaped passage which in its open position allows passage of water through said constricted section (24), characterized in that a control valve (31) is provided upstream at the end of said air suction duct (28), said valve (31) being opened by the negative pressure generated in the constricted section (24) of the venturi tube formed by the central duct (23) when water under pressure passes therethrough.
Hydromassage nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that said casing (11) housing said adjustable body (10) and the flange securing the nozzle to the wall of the tub or pool have a conical portion (19) inclined toward the interior of the tub for selfdrainage of the nozzle.
Hydromassage nozzle according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the central duct (23) is screwed in a sleeve (25) in an adjustable manner, the sleeve (25) forming a seat for a base (27) which bears said air suction duct (28) and which has openings (32) for the inlet of water under pressure, the moving of said venturi tube duct being achieved by screwing and unscrewing said duct (23).
Hydromassage nozzle according to one of claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that it comprises an auxiliary part (33) connectable to the end of said central duct (23) and having an outlet slot for delivery of a fan-shaped stream.
Hydromassage nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the control valve (31) is a spring loaded control valve.