EP0682932A2 - Jet orienting device for hydromassage nozzles - Google Patents

Abstract

The hydromassage unit has a nozzle (4) that is larger than a cone-shaped discharge channel (14). In the absence of additional influences, the jet issues in a central position. Deflection of the jet is generated by the introduction of control flow at right angle (13) to the jet to produce the massaging effect. The flow can be pulsed by the operation of a valve. Control jets on opposite sides produce a bistable action. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for orienting the direction of a jet that can be emitted from a hydromassage nozzle, wherein the direction of the emittable jet can be changed by fluidic signals.

Devices for supplying pressurized liquid and / or gaseous media are known in the field of sanitary facilities. Devices of this type are provided in conjunction with a sanitary water basin, such as a shower bath, whirlpool, swimming pool or exercise pool, in a stationary or mobile arrangement. The jet that can be emitted from these devices serves the purpose of treating the human body. In such devices, it is advantageous that the direction of the dispensable jet can be oriented manually or automatically, that the dispensable jet is expelled in a pulsed manner and, last but not least, that the jet consists of a mixture of a liquid and a gaseous medium.

Various proposals have been made to design such devices as a hydromassage nozzle and to equip them with a pivotable jet steering device, for example a ball nozzle or with a swivel head. Such hydromassage jets have the disadvantage that the mobility of the pivotable jet steering device is impaired by deposits. The pivoting of the jet steering device creates a high flow resistance, which leads to pressure loss and a reduction in the desirable mixture formation.

A hydromassage nozzle for a sanitary device is known from DE G 9205316.6, the direction of the jet that can be emitted from this single jet nozzle being orientable with the aid of mechanical devices. This device has the disadvantage that sealing against loss of water is very complex. There is a risk of leaks on inaccessible components. Disadvantageously, a complex mechanical drive and movement device requiring maintenance, which is largely installed in inaccessible installation areas, is required. The change in the beam orientation disadvantageously takes place in wiping movements, which essentially only tangentially impinge on the body of a bathing guest and therefore only produce an insufficient massage effect. Disadvantageously, the change in the beam orientation is limited and sluggish due to the mobility of the mechanical drive devices. US Pat. No. 4,763,367, US Pat. No. 4,715,071 and US Pat. No. 4,710,990 disclose hydromassage jets which have rotatably mounted jet pipes, the jet pipes being drawn in by the flowing medium Rotation or roll movement can be offset. Due to the moving jet pipes, there is a considerable risk of accidents, in particular for children, on such hydromassage jets. A high jet pressure is required to cause a noticeable jet rotation. Excessive jet pressure causes skin and tissue damage when using an underwater massage. The size of such devices is disadvantageously so large that the mounting wall must be severed and weakened to a considerable extent, which leads to static problems and problems with sealing. A disadvantage of such devices is the fact that when the tub is emptied, residual water remains in the devices and this leads to the formation of odors and poor hygiene conditions.

A whirlpool tub is known from EP 0 115 603, in which the jet that can be emitted from the hydromassage nozzle can be pulsed. In this case, a device is provided in the air supply line which can be actuated in a cyclical manner and interrupts the air flow. Such a device has the disadvantage that the hydromassage jet only ejects a "hard" water jet during the period of the interruption of the air flow, and that the jet emitted from the hydromassage jet always assumes a constant directional orientation.

The invention has for its object to improve the performance, function and mode of operation of known hydromassage jets in such a way that the directional orientation of the discharge jet can be carried out largely without moving parts and that a sufficiently ventilated mixture jet can be generated.

This object is achieved by a hydromassage nozzle which has a nozzle housing and an inner courtyard is formed within the nozzle housing, a supply duct leading from the outside into the inner courtyard, which supply duct with at least one supply nozzle opens into the inner courtyard, which is enlarged compared to the supply nozzle, which becomes the inner courtyard formed essentially by two spaced and substantially parallel walls that form a flat channel in the direction of flow, the flat channel being laterally delimited by walls of smaller width, downstream the flat channel has an outlet opening, at the side of the supply nozzle at least opens into the courtyard Control channel, through which control channel a certain amount of fluid can be supplied to the inner courtyard or can be removed from the inner courtyard, the directional orientation of the power beam being influenced by the supply or discharge of a certain amount of fluid is cash.

The invention is based on the known Coanda effect and the knowledge that a free fluid jet carries fluid with it from its surroundings. However, as soon as there are fixed limits, these can hinder the flow of the surrounding fluid, so that the Pressure in the vicinity of the jet is reduced. If the pressure reduction is distributed unevenly around the jet, so that a pressure difference occurs between two opposite jet sides, then the jet can be deflected from its original direction by this pressure difference.

• a) indem ein durch Druck oder Unterdruck strömendes Fluid über den Steuerkanal dem Innenraum zugeführt wird,
• b) oder, der Leistungsstrahl geteilt wird und eine von dem Leistungsstrahl abgetrennte Fluid-Teilmenge aus dem Innenhof durch den Steuerkanal abgeleitet wird, wobei der Innenhof wenigstens einen Strahlteiler aufweist,
• c) oder, durch Rückkopplung eines Impulses der in Verbindung mit vorgesehenen Nebenkanälen auf den Leistungsstrahl übertragen wird.

The orientation of the direction of the fluid jet is brought about in the method according to the invention:

• a) by supplying a fluid flowing through pressure or negative pressure to the interior via the control channel,
• b) or, the power jet is divided and a fluid subset separated from the power jet is diverted from the inner courtyard through the control channel, the inner courtyard having at least one beam splitter,
• c) or, by feedback of a pulse which is transmitted in connection with provided secondary channels on the power beam.

The invention enables several types of configuration, each particular type of configuration being operable differently.

• von außen mit pulsiertem Steuermedium versorgbar sind, oder
• als Ringkanal ausgebildet, miteinander in Strömungsverbindung stehen, oder
• als Verbindungskanäle zwischen einem stromab der Versorgungsdüse gelegenen Bereich des Innenhofs und dem Nachbarbereich der Versorgungsdüse ausgebildet sind.

According to variant c), the hydromassage nozzle according to the invention is designed as a multivibrator, the inner courtyard of the nozzle housing in the vicinity of the supply nozzle having two control channel inputs or control channel outputs which are preferably arranged in opposite directions. To which control channel inputs or outputs connect flow channels provided from the outside, which flow channels either:

• can be supplied from the outside with a pulsed control medium, or
• formed as an annular channel, are in flow connection with each other, or
• are formed as connecting channels between a region of the inner courtyard located downstream of the supply nozzle and the neighboring region of the supply nozzle.

As a result of the nozzle effect, a negative pressure can be generated in the laterally widened area of the inner courtyard when the power jet is supplied. The lateral peripheral walls of the inner courtyard have at least one opening, to which opening a control channel which can be supplied with control medium connects. When a control medium is supplied, which can be supplied through the opening provided in the wall of the inner courtyard, the negative pressure formed by the nozzle effect is compensated.

In a further variant in accordance with the embodiment of the hydromassage nozzle described under c), the mouth of at least one control channel is provided in the area of the supply nozzle, which control channel can either be supplied with a pulsed fluid from the outside, or is designed as a closed loop, and one on the right and opening to the left of the supply nozzle opens into the inner courtyard of the nozzle housing.
Instead of the ring channel, however, a control channel opening can also be provided at least on one side of the supply nozzle, this opening being in flow connection through a control channel with a downstream inlet opening. The downstream inlet opening protrudes with a wall section into the outflow channel, as a result of which the flow cross-section of the outflow channel is reduced, with part of the power jet being able to be returned through the control channel into the upstream region of the inner courtyard, into the vicinity of the supply nozzle.
In the embodiment of the invention according to the variant described under c), the signals serving to switch the beam can be transmitted in rapid succession to the power beam, so that the orientation of the beam can be emitted with a high cycle rate through the hydromassage nozzle as a multi-vibrator.

In the embodiment variant of the hydromassage nozzle described under b), it is provided that at least one upstream edge protruding into the flow channel is provided in the inner courtyard, to which edge there is a bulge directed sideways outwards, the wall of the bulge having an opening, which opening opens into a sewer. The power beam is divisible by the edge jumping into the flow channel. By flooding the partial jet, the predominant rest of the power jet comes to rest on one side against the wall of the outflow channel and assumes a stable orientation. If the flooding is interrupted, the power beam assumes a stable central orientation.

For the desirable mixture formation, it is provided for the different variants (a, b, c), but particularly preferably for variant b), that a ventilation device is provided, one downstream of the mouth of the control channel, preferably downstream of the edge jumping into the flow channel Ventilation opening formed in the duct wall. A ventilation duct provided, which is connected to the atmosphere, adjoins the ventilation opening, the air required for the mixture formation being able to be fed to the flow duct. According to the invention, it is proposed to design the area of the flow channel into which the ventilation channel opens with its supply opening with an expanding cross section.

In the context of the invention, however, it is also possible to extend the respective control channel in such a way that, in addition to the respectively assigned influencing zone (I, II), also downstream Influence zone a ventilation of the outflow channel is provided, wherein a ventilation opening in flow communication with the control channel opens into the outflow channel. Each control channel is preferably extended in such a way that the outflow channel can be ventilated from the atmosphere or with the aid of a compressed air generating fan.

The ventilation rate of the power jet is improved according to the invention in that the cross section of a control line or its mouth leading into the inner courtyard has a clear opening which is at least 25% to at most 100% of the clear cross section of the supply nozzle. This configuration has the advantage that a sufficient ventilation rate can be introduced into the inner courtyard even at low unpressure, on the other hand that inertia rates are avoided when switching the jet orientation due to excess air.

In another variant, it is proposed to introduce the amount of air required for mixture formation into the inner courtyard downstream of the supply nozzle. For this purpose, it is provided to introduce a ventilation channel that is in flow communication with the atmosphere, preferably through the center of the supply nozzle into the inner courtyard, the supply nozzle being divided into two individual nozzles by the ventilation channel, the outlet opening of the ventilation channel downstream of the narrowest cross section of the supply nozzle Inner courtyard of the nozzle housing opens. In this embodiment, the mouth of a control channel that is in flow communication with the atmosphere is provided to the side of the two formed supply nozzles.

The air admixture is further promoted by an additional ventilation opening provided downstream of the control channel mouth.

With the hydromassage nozzle according to the invention according to variant a), which can supply a medium flowing with pressure or negative pressure to the interior via the control channel, it is possible to supply the air quantity serving for jet ventilation to the courtyard by means of the control medium. According to the invention it is proposed that the ratio width: height of the supply nozzle in the ratio between 1: 1 to 5: 1, the hourly fluid throughput at the supply nozzle between Q = 2 m³ to 4 m³ at a supply pressure of p₁ = 0.7 to 1.3 bar.

A particular advantage of the invention can be seen in the fact that the orientation of the jet which can be emitted into the tub can be changed in rapid succession, so that the orientation of the jets which can be emitted from the hydromassage nozzle can be changed with a high pulse sequence, as a result of which a highly intensive pulse interaction with one a longitudinal axis and with a can be projected into the interior of the tub with a right-left movement of the oscillating spectrum.

Various experiments carried out with the hydromassage nozzle according to the invention, both with a rapid change of the jet orientation in connection with at least one control valve, as well as with a multivibrator provided without a control valve, the inputs of which were influenced by a feedback secondary flow, have shown that those with impulse interaction of the jets emanating from the hydromassage jet within a large elongated oval area transmit a hitherto unknown massage stimulus to the body of a person exposed to this interaction soft massage effect is achievable. This, compared to known hydromassage jets, particularly pleasant massage effect is achieved in particular because very high turbulence can be generated as a result of the delivery jet subjected to multivibration and because of this high turbulence the jet effect can be better used, consequently far more air can be absorbed by the turbulent power jet than this is the case with known hydromassage jets.

In an advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the outflow channel of the hydromassage nozzle can be configured so that it can be preset in relation to its rotational position. For this configuration, it is proposed that the walls provided within the nozzle housing for the beam guidance be rotated or pivoted sideways and movably supported within the nozzle housing, and that, in conjunction with a provided actuating means (handle), the designs are adjustable from the emission side. It is proposed that the outflow channel provided downstream of the mouth of the control channel or its jacket walls can be rotated about its longitudinal axis and / or be pivoted so that it deviates from the longitudinal axis to the outside. This configuration has the advantage that the orientation of the outflow channel can be changed by actuation, so that the orientation of the outflow channel can be preset between each horizontal and vertical setting.

In an advantageous embodiment of the presettable variant, both the outflow channel and the walls forming the interior of the nozzle housing can be rotated as a one-piece structural unit around the longitudinal axis of the inner courtyard and / or can be pivoted outwards from the longitudinal axis and can be moved and preferably exchangeably mounted within the nozzle housing . In this embodiment, an annular channel running inside the nozzle housing but outside the inner courtyard is provided, which is in flow connection with the control channel and with the inner courtyard via an opening provided in the jacket walls thereof.

With this configuration, it is conceivable to provide the mouth walls of the supply nozzle on the jacket walls surrounding the inner courtyard and thus to include the supply nozzle in the rotatable and / or pivotable component. Preferably, the outer walls of the jacket walls are cylindrical or spherical and are movable, rotatable or pivoted radially outward within the nozzle housing. In the context of the invention, the one-piece component can have an outflow channel that deviates from its central axis. This configuration has the advantage that the opening (s) provided in the casing wall can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the inner courtyard or around the longitudinal axis of the casing wall and the beam orientation can be changed in accordance with the rotation or pivoting of the opening.

In the further embodiment it is provided that at least one wall of the narrow sides of the inner courtyard has a bulge, the wall delimiting the bulge, starting from the supply nozzle, initially being designed with an outward course and in its further course preferably curved, at least in the downstream direction but protrudes into the flow channel at an angle. An opening is provided in the wall surrounding the bulge, essentially at a right angle to the supply nozzle, which, like the supply nozzle, opens into the inner courtyard. The second opening is in flow connection with a control channel provided, via which control channel a control medium can be fed to the inner courtyard of the nozzle housing or part of the power jet can be removed from the inner courtyard.

In the further embodiment, the inner courtyard of the nozzle housing has a larger cross section, at least in connection with a bulge, than the power jet outlet opening arranged coaxially or offset with respect to the supply nozzle.

In the further development it is provided that the inner courtyard has an outlet opening, which outlet opening opens into at least one outflow channel. The outflow channel has a wedge-shaped configuration downstream and opens out with a wide emission slot.

In a preferred variant, the outlet opening of the hydromassage nozzle opening into the pool interior is elongated, slit-like. This design has the advantage that the hydromassage nozzle can be provided in step-like steps of the tub. Such shoulders can be provided, for example, in the mounting wall or in the area of a floor of a bathtub which runs horizontally. The outlet slot, for example with a particularly narrow profile, standing vertically within a wall section or that the slot-like outlet opening lying horizontally within a step-like configuration of the tub bottom provided on the bottom of the tub, lying flat horizontally, can be fixed.

A further variant provides for the opening of the supply nozzle to be formed by one or more walls which at least partially surround the opening of the supply nozzle, which walls protrude into the supply duct and have (have) a formed tear-off edge downstream of the inner courtyard.
The formation of the supply nozzle with a jet tear-off edge has the advantage that the power jet assumes an unstable position and consequently the switching of the jet orientation can be influenced with little force.

For an automated switchover of the beam orientation, it is provided that the control medium supply lines or partial flow drain line leading to the hydromassage nozzle have at least one control valve through which the flow cross-section of the control or drain line and channels can be changed, as a result of which the inner courtyard can be supplied or removed Medium flow is controllable.
It is particularly advantageous if the hydromassage nozzle according to the invention or the valves used to control the media can be actuated electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically by external energy, and the actuation can be predetermined by electronic means by means of a control program used for automation. Predeterminable cycle times and predeterminable beam direction orientations can be called up by a predefinable program and the beam orientation can be synchronized in the same or opposite directions and can be automated.

For the design of a hydromassage nozzle from which a jet with bistable jet orientation can be emitted, it is proposed according to the invention to form a bulge in the walls surrounding the inner courtyard, in two areas that are preferably opposite one another, the second bulge also having an opening in its wall has to which opening a control channel connects, via which control channels a pulse serving to switch the beam orientation or a control medium can be fed to the inner courtyard or a partial stream separated from the power beam can be flooded.
This embodiment has the advantage that the power beam flowing through the inner courtyard can be switched over to a bistable orientation as a result of the respective supply of a pulse, a control medium or flooding of a subset separated from the power beam.
Of course, in combination with an adjustable and / or pivotable component described above, which has at least one outflow channel, the orientation of the emission direction can be preset.

In a further advantageous embodiment, two outlet channels pointing in different directions branch off downstream of the outlet opening of the inner courtyard. This configuration has the advantage of better beam guidance. Rotatable and / or pivotable jacket walls in combination with two in different directions are particularly advantageous pointing output channels. This combination has the advantage that the jets which can be emitted from the hydromassage nozzle can be emitted both monostably and bistably in different directions from those of the divided output channels which serve to guide the jet.

In a further development of the invention, which further favors the ventilation of the power jet, it is provided that an additional ventilation line, which is in flow communication with the atmosphere, opens into the outlet channel (s), the ventilation line (s) preferably having a control valve ) by means of which the passage cross section of the ventilation line can be changed.
If two or more output channels are provided in a variant, it is advantageous to connect the various output channels to one another by a connecting channel arranged transversely to the individual output channels, the ventilation line either opening into a flow section of the flow channel connected downstream of the inner courtyard or opening into the various divided flow channels .

In another advantageous variant, it is provided that the outlet opening of the inner courtyard is designed as a collecting nozzle, which collecting nozzle opens downstream into the outflow channel. This configuration has the advantage that the switchover of the beam orientation can be carried out by means of relatively weak pulses. The collecting nozzle is preferably designed in an oval or rectangular shape.

A plurality of hydromassage jets are preferably combined into a group and can be controlled by means of at least one control valve provided in the control medium supply line or partial flow drain line.

The directional orientation of the jet that can be emitted from the hydromassage nozzles can be influenced by different or identical actuation of the control valves, preferably can be emitted in a synchronized manner in predefinable cycle times.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention allows several hydromassage jets to be designed as a one-piece assembly. It is provided to arrange several inner courtyards in a horizontal arrangement next to one another or in a vertical arrangement one above the other within a nozzle housing and to form them as a one-piece assembly. The interior of the nozzle housing then has a plurality of inner courtyards, each with at least one emission channel.
This configuration has the advantage that a horizontal or vertical jet spectrum that can be emitted by the hydromassage nozzle can be emitted by a plurality of ejection channels that are combined to form a structural unit.

This embodiment has the advantage that the intensity of the emitted jet can be emitted and transferred to a much larger area than is the case with a known hydromassage nozzle by dispensing the fluid from several emitting orifices combined into one assembly and simultaneously switching the jet orientation whose beam orientation can only be changed by wiping movements or manually. It is easy to see that particularly high beam pulses can be generated with short control valve switching intervals.
The jacket walls of an influencing zone arranged in an assembly can also be configured individually, as described above, to be presettable.

The further development of the assembly allows the arrangement of several outflow channels on one level, in a circular or at least arch-like arrangement. The supply duct, for a plurality of outflow ducts provided in a circular or arc-like arrangement, is preferably arranged in the center of the assembly. In the configuration of this assembly, the axis of at least one outflow channel has an angular deviation with respect to the axis of its adjacent outflow channel, in the direction of flow. In a preferred variant, the radiation channels arranged in the outer regions of an assembly have an outward radiation direction. This embodiment has the advantage that the beam spectrum that can be emitted can be emitted at least in the region of a partial circle.

In a preferred definition of the hydromassage nozzle according to the invention, it is provided that in the wall section of the area of a bathtub to which the feet of a bathing guest lying in the bathtub are to be assigned and the wall section of the area to which the back of a bathing guest lying in the bathtub is to be assigned at least one vertical one or to arrange a horizontal group of hydromassage jets and operate them with a pulsating, alternating jet orientation.
In a further preferred arrangement it is provided to fix a group of hydromassage jets horizontally next to one another in the wall areas, preferably near the bottom of the water basin, or in the bottom area of the water basin and to operate them with a pulsating alternating jet orientation.

For the arrangement of the hydromassage nozzle according to the invention, it is proposed to fix the nozzle housing essentially in a vertical arrangement in or on a mounting wall and to introduce the supply line for the power jet from top to bottom into the supply nozzle, the outflow channel opening into the interior of the water basin with a curve. This arrangement has the advantage that the overall length of the hydromassage nozzle can be provided within the available wall height and that the Interiors of the hydromassage nozzle in their vertical arrangement can be emptied without residual water.
Within the scope of the invention it is provided to arrange several hydromassage jets within a preferably free-standing column. This design has the advantage that the hydromassage jets can be used in shower baths or other sanitary facilities, with at least partially free-standing columns, wall or ceiling areas of a shower device serving as supports for the hydromassage jets. It is provided that the hydromassage jets provided in the columns or in the walls of the through device can be supplied with a power jet from the domestic water supply or in the flow circuit in connection with a circulation pump through supply lines provided within the columns or the walls. The formation of slot-like outflow openings which are provided on the flat side of the support panels is advantageous. In the further development, the support panels can of course be designed essentially as a vertical wall or as a column.

In the context of the invention it is further provided that such a panel, wall or column, designed as a support, for receiving several radiation openings and the associated supply and control lines and anchored by means of fastening means provided in the area of a sanitary wet cell, stationary or mobile and by means of provided connection means can be connected to a preferably flexible supply line and can be supplied with fluid from a source.

In a special variant, several support panels are joined to form a wet cell that can be entered through a wall opening provided. The wet cell is formed from a floor pan with upstanding side walls which are designed as support panels for receiving hydromassage jets. A pivotable cell entrance door and a cover spanning the head side of the wet cell are preferably provided. The walls of the support panels have a plurality of slit-like outflow openings of the hydromassage nozzles provided in a horizontal or vertical arrangement according to the invention.

In one embodiment, a plurality of support panels provided with outlet openings are combined to form a wet cell which has a floor pan, the wet cell having a floor drain valve, preferably with a stand pipe, which stand pipe serves as a safety overflow. The floor drain valve is connected to the drain channel via a drain pipe provided.

The floor pan has a water suction connection which penetrates the wall of the floor pan and is in flow connection with a circulation pump via a suction line provided. The circulation pump can be charged with electrical energy and for Supply of the hydromassage jets can be operated. On the pressure side of the circulation pump, a supply line is provided, via which supply line a flow connection is made to the radiation openings arranged within the walls of the carrier panels.
The hydromassage jets arranged within the support panels can be supplied from the floor pan in the flow circuit.

In a further embodiment it is provided that a box-like seat is formed within the wet room. The seat box has one or more suction openings in its foot area. The inner courtyard of the seat box serves to accommodate the circulating pump, which circulating pump is preferably equipped as an underwater submersible pump, and the inner courtyard of the seat box serves to accommodate a reservoir for cleaning agents, which cleaning agents can be added to the supply medium in circulating mode.

In a further advantageous embodiment, which improves the hygiene conditions within the supply system, it is provided that the supply duct of the nozzle housing is designed to be lockable. A closure body is preferably used for this purpose, which is axially movable within the supply channel and can be moved into its open position by the pressure of the supply medium and is preferably returned to its closed position by the force from a spring energy store, the closure body preferably being one in an open position and one in a closed position movable pressure plate is used, which can be pressed in its closed position on an intended annular shoulder. The closure body can preferably be inserted as a one-piece unit into the supply channel and is preferably exchangeably anchored within the supply channel.

Further advantages of the invention can be found in the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments, the drawings and the claims. In the individual figures, the same reference numerals are always used for recurring training, insofar it concerns training and features that have already been described for a previously described figure and can accordingly also be used in combination.

1 shows in section a hydromassage nozzle 1 in the inner courtyard 5 of which an influencing zone 1 is formed, the beam orientation being switched over according to variant a).
As an additional variant, this exemplary embodiment is shown with a one-piece component which is mounted and rotatable within the nozzle housing.

The hydromassage nozzle 1 preferably has an essentially cylindrical, round or oval nozzle housing 2 which is supported with a flange collar on the inside of a pool wall 6 and can be fixed in a watertight manner in an assembly opening 21 provided in the pool wall 6. The nozzle housing comprises the flow channel 10, which is essentially flat in its interior.
The nozzle housing 2 has a supply duct 3 which leads from the outside into the inner courtyard 5 of the nozzle housing. The supply channel has a supply nozzle 4 downstream, the supply nozzle opens into the mouth cross section, which is essentially square to rectangular in shape, into a cross section, relative to the free passage cross section of the nozzle mouth, in the laterally enlarged inner courtyard 5. The inner courtyard 5 is essentially formed by two spaced and essentially parallel walls 5a, 5b, which form a flat channel in the direction of flow, the spacing of the walls being determined by the height of the outlet opening of the supply nozzle 4. Of the walls 5a, 5b, only the wall 5a is shown in FIGS. 1-6. The flat duct is formed laterally by two walls 9, 9a of smaller width, downstream the flat duct has an outlet opening 11, at the side of the supply nozzle 4 opens into the inner courtyard 5 in the region of the side walls 9 at least one control duct 13, through which control duct a certain amount of fluid can be fed to the inner courtyard 5 or can be removed from the inner courtyard.

The supply nozzle 4 has a smaller cross-section than the supply channel 3. The walls 4a, 4b delimiting the supply nozzle, which are preferably designed with an aspect ratio width: height between 1: 1 to 4: 1, project essentially with a sharply formed beam tear-off edge 7 in the cross section of the supply channel 3 into it.

The side wall 9 has a bulge 8, which is formed with an outward course. The further course of the wall 9 is preferably curved, but is at least formed at an acute angle and projects into the flow channel 10 with a slightly upstream end edge 19. The end edge 19 forms, together with the other areas of the walls comprising the influencing zone I, an outlet opening 11. The outlet opening 11 can optionally be understood as a collecting nozzle which opens downstream into the outflow channel 10. The outlet opening 11 is arranged opposite the supply nozzle 4 and has a smaller passage cross-section than the inner courtyard with the influencing zone I. Essentially at right angles to the supply nozzle 4, at least one opening 12 opens into the bulge 8, which opening also has a control channel 13 connected to it Pulses or with a medium for switching the beam orientation can be supplied.
The outlet opening 11 of the influencing zone I opens into at least one subsequent outflow channel 14. The outflow channel has an outlet opening 15 downstream.

The supply nozzle 4, the influencing zone I with the bulge 8, the opening 12, the outlet opening 11, the outflow channel 14 with the outlet opening 15 are preferably formed as a one-piece component and can be rotated and by means of an anchoring device 16 connected to the nozzle housing, preferably with a threaded ring adjustable in a recess of the nozzle housing 2.
The inner courtyard 5 of the nozzle housing 2 has a recess which is in flow connection with the control channel 13 as an annular channel 17. The outflow channel 14 has a wedge-shaped cross-sectional widening downstream.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through a variant of the hydromassage nozzle according to FIG. 1. In this variant, the hydromassage nozzle is designed to emit a central jet and a bistable jet. In addition, the inner courtyard 5, or its shell walls, is shown in a rotatable design.
In addition to the first partial area with the influencing zone I, the inner courtyard 5 of the nozzle housing 2 has a bulge 8a opposite the first bulge 8 with a second partial area with the influencing zone II. The wall 9a of the bulge 8a is essentially a mirror image of the wall 9 of the bulge 8. The end edge 19a forms, together with the end edge 19, together with the adjacent side walls, an outlet opening 11. The outlet opening can also be understood as a collecting nozzle to which the outflow channel 10 connects downstream and into which outflow channel 14 the collecting nozzle opens.

The opening 12, 12a opens into the bulges 8, 8a essentially at a right angle to the supply nozzle 4. The openings 12 and 12a can each be supplied via a subsequent control channel 13, 13a with at least one pulse or control medium used to switch the beam orientation.
The outlet opening 11 opens into at least one subsequent outflow channel 14. The outflow channel has a wedge-shaped widening and an outlet opening 15 downstream. The supply nozzle 4, the influencing zones I, II with the bulges 8, 8a, the opening 12 and 12a, the outlet opening 11 and the outflow channel 14 with the outlet opening 15 are formed as a one-piece component and preferably by means of an anchoring device 16 which can be connected to the nozzle housing a threaded ring, rotatable and adjustable.

The nozzle housing 2 has two control channels 13, 13a. The control channels open through the openings 12, 12a into the bulges 8, 8a or into the inner courtyard 5.
In addition, a ventilation line 23, which is in flow communication with the atmosphere, can open into the outflow channel 14. The ventilation line 23 is preferably equipped with a control valve, not shown. By changing the cross-section of the control valve, the amount of air flowing through the ventilation line can be changed, the air flowing through the Air flowing through the ventilation line can be sucked into the outflow channel and can be regulated by the nozzle effect. This additional configuration can of course also be used accordingly in the variant according to FIG. 1.

In a variant that is not shown in more detail and that can be used in all exemplary embodiments, the outflow channel 14 in the region of the opening of the ventilation line 23 is designed as a diffuser with a step-like cross-sectional widening leading to the outside, the cross-sectional widening at least however expanding the height of the outflow channel in the form of a shoulder-like design .

The flow cross section of the control channel 13 according to FIG. 1 and the control channels 13, 13a according to FIGS. 2 to 6 can be regulated by means of one or each of the provided manually operable or automatically controllable valve 22, 22a.

The valves 22, 22a are preferably equipped with drives which can be acted on by means of electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic energy. The valves can be actuated between an open position and a closed position, the control being carried out by electronic means and a program serving for automation, and for this purpose predeterminable cycle times and predeterminable beam direction orientations can be called up by a predefined software program.
In a preferred variant, which is not only applicable for a hydromassage nozzle according to FIG. 2, at least one of the valves 22, 22a is designed as a vibrator valve. In this embodiment, not shown, the inner courtyard of the valve has a vibration element. The vibration element can be actuated by negative pressure or positive pressure. It is provided to arrange a rubber-elastic membrane or a flap as a vibrator element through which membrane or flap the flow-flow cross-section of the valve can be changed in a rapid cycle. One or more balls can also be provided as the vibrator element, which can be moved between a valve seat assigned to the ball and a stop shoulder.

In the context of the invention, it is proposed to extend the respective control channel 13, 13a next to the openings 12, 12a opening into the influencing zone I, II, in such a way that a further ventilation opening (not shown in the drawing) can be supplied, whereby these ventilation openings open into the flow channel 10 at a distance from the edges 19, 19 a, that is to say downstream of the collecting nozzle 11.

The air supply to the control channels 13, 13a can preferably be supported by a provided compressed air-generating fan. This configuration can also be transferred to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6.

FIG. 3 shows a further variant, the hydromassage nozzle according to FIG. 1, however, compared to FIG. 2, two outflow channels 14, 14 a are arranged downstream of the outlet opening 11 in different directions. A jet splitter 20 is arranged within the flow channel 10, preferably centrally, which is equipped with an upstream wedge or a cone tip and divides the flow channel 10 into two outflow channels 14, 14 a. The component carrying the outflow channels is preferably designed to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The media can be dispensed in various directions from the outflow channels, but can be rotated or pivoted and preset by actuation of the component forming the outflow channels.

In a further variant, the outflow channels 14, 14a are in flow communication with the atmosphere. For this purpose, at least one ventilation line 23 is provided, which opens into a connecting line 24 provided between the output channels. The ventilation line 23 has a control valve (not shown), the passage cross section of the ventilation line being changeable by means of the control valve.

A sealant 30 is provided between the walls of the supply channel 3 and the walls of the rotatable or pivotable component. The sealant preferably consists of an O-ring, which is clamped between the end wall of the supply channel and the opposite end wall of the rotatable or pivotable component and is provided as a sealant between the supply channel 3 and the supply channel 13 (channels 13a) . Of course, the sealant can also be used in the variants of the hydromassage nozzle described above.

The variant described as FIG. 3 also works as a multivibrator in accordance with the description of FIGS. 1 and 2; the features described above for feedback or pulsation must be designed accordingly.

4 shows a further variant of the hydromassage nozzle, which is designed as a multi-vibrator. The reference symbols used in FIG. 4 are identical to the previously used reference symbols insofar as they are the same components.

The supply nozzle 4 opens out into the inner courtyard 5 with the influencing zone I, II with a reduced cross section compared to the supply duct 3. The opening 12c, 12d are provided in the vicinity of the mouth of the opening of the supply nozzle 4. Downstream, the courtyard is designed with an increasing cross-sectional expansion. Downstream, the inner courtyard has a collecting nozzle 40. Two openings 12e, 12f are formed in the vicinity of the collecting nozzle 40. The openings each open into a secondary channel 41, 41a. These secondary channels are in flow connection with the openings 12c, 12d provided near the supply nozzle 4. The secondary channels 41, 41a are connected to a ventilation line, not shown, which is in flow communication with the atmosphere.

The hydromassage nozzles according to the representations of FIGS. 4 can be equipped with a rotatable or pivotable component, as explained in more detail above with reference to FIG 23 is provided with a diffuser-like cross-sectional expansion.

5 shows a variant of a hydromassage nozzle. The supply duct 3 opens into the inner courtyard 5 with a supply nozzle 4, at least one influencing zone I is formed in the inner courtyard. The supply nozzle 4 has a smaller cross section than the supply channel 3. At least one wall protrudes into the supply channel, which wall is designed as a jet separation edge 7. A swirl chamber 43 is formed downstream of the jet separation edge 7. The swirl chamber is open to the outflow channel 10 and has an edge 19 which is directed upstream into the outflow channel. A jet splitter can be provided downstream, which, as described above, divides the outflow channel into two subchannels. Furthermore, the ventilation line 23 is provided, which opens into the outflow channel (s). The vortex chamber 43 has an opening 44 in its peripheral wall, which opens into a drain channel 45. The flow cross section of the discharge channel 45 can be regulated by a valve 22 provided.
As already described for the hydromassage jets described above, this variant is also additionally equipped with an element designed to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis. An annular channel 17 is also provided in this variant, as in the hydromassage nozzle according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a group of hydromassage jets 1. The illustration is of a type that has already been described in detail for FIG. 2. It is within the scope of the invention that instead of forming the influencing zone according to FIG. 2, other or different influencing zones according to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5 are provided. The reference symbols used for FIG. 6 are identical to the features and components described above.
The figure shows the housing 2 of the hydromassage nozzle 1 fixed to a basin wall 6 of the water basin 35 in section through a plane AA.
The inner courtyards 5 are arranged side by side in a row within a one-piece unit. The structural unit has a supply duct 3 which is in flow communication with each individual courtyard, from which supply duct each individual supply nozzle can be supplied with a power jet. Furthermore, the assembly has two control or partial drainage channels 13, 13a per inner courtyard, which channels are also in flow connection with each individual inner courtyard.

The outflow channels 15 are preferably provided with a screw thread or other fastening means. Into which fastener a screw-in fitting 36, which preferably has a threaded neck 37 as a fastening means, can be screwed in with a flange flange spanning the assembly opening in the pool wall 6, the wall of the water basin being watertightly clampable between the housing of the nozzle housing 2 and the flange flange. The threaded neck or collar flange preferably has a central bore 38 which serves as an outflow opening.
Such assemblies are preferably arranged vertically or horizontally in the walls of the sanitary facilities, preferably at least one assembly being provided horizontally in the opposite walls of the long sides of water basins, near the pool floor, and at least in a vertical arrangement on the walls of the narrow areas an assembly.

In the illustration, the radiation pattern of the multivibrator is symbolized on the switching element UE 1 by arrows. The directional orientation of the delivery jet can be switched between two different orientations in a bistable manner. The control pulses can be generated by feedback, as described above, but it is also conceivable, as already described above, to equip the supply line (s) 32, 32a, for example, with a vibration flap valve or with solenoid-operated control valves.

Fig. 7 shows a top view of a water basin 35 in the walls of which several hydromassage jets 1 are arranged. The hydromassage jets are connected in groups A and B in the arrangement A1, A2, A3 etc. and B1, B2, B3 to the supply lines 31 and 31a and can be supplied with delivery medium through these lines. The tub has a suction device 34 in flow connection with the tub inner courtyard, between which a flow circuit can be produced with the aid of a circulation pump via the supply lines 31, 31a to the hydromassage jets. The hydromassage jets are connected to the control medium supply lines 32 / 32a and can be supplied with control medium through these lines. The control medium supply lines 32 / 32a leading to the groups of hydromassage jets each have a control valve 22 and 22a.
By actuating the control valves 22, 22a differently or identically, the directional orientation of the jet that can be emitted from the hydromassage nozzles can be influenced in a monostable or bistable orientation, at least according to the arrow representations, preferably in a synchronized manner in predeterminable cycle times.
The narrow side has two hydromassage jets as assemblies BG 1 and BG 2, such an assembly is shown by way of example in FIG. 6. The modules can be supplied from the supply lines in the same way as the individual hydromassages.

The arrows show different beam orientations. The rays that can be oriented in the basic setting on a plane A / B can preferably be preset in different planes and can be changed in any desired position between horizontal and vertical. The hydromassage jets are designed and operable for a counter-rotating A1 / B1, as well as co-rotating A3 / B3 or diverging A2 / B2 or pulsating, switchable jet orientation.

Explanation of symbols

1 hydromassage jet
2 nozzle housings
3 supply channel
4 supply nozzle
4a; 4b walls of the supply nozzle
5 courtyard
5a, 5b parallel walls of the courtyard
6 pool wall
7 jet tear-off edge
8.8a bulge
9.9a wall of the bulge
10 flow channel
11 outlet opening
12, 12a, 12c, 12d, 12f opening
13.13a control channel
14, 14a, outflow channel
15 outlet opening
16 anchoring device
17 ring channel
19,19a end edge of the wall 8,8a
20 beam splitters
21 assembly opening
22,22a control valve
23 ventilation line
24 connecting channel
30 sealant
31.31a supply line
32,32a supply line for the control medium
34 water tank suction device
35 pools
36 screw fitting
37 threaded neck
38 emission opening
40 collecting nozzle
41.41a secondary channel
42 ring channel
43 vertebrae
44 opening in the swirl chamber
45 drain pipe
46 control valve
A, B longitudinal axes with groups of hydromassage jets A1, B1 etc.
UE1, UE2, UE3 switching elements in one assembly
I, II zone of influence
BG assembly

Claims (10)

Hydromassage nozzle (1) for producing a water-air mixture and for irradiating the same into a sanitary water basin, the hydromassage nozzle has a nozzle housing and an inner courtyard is formed inside the nozzle housing, into which inner courtyard a supply duct with a supply nozzle opens, and the inner courtyard has a ventilation opening , which is in flow communication with the atmosphere, through which ventilation opening the power jet that can be emitted from the supply nozzle can be supplied with air for the purpose of forming a mixture of water and air, wherein the hydromassage jet can be supplied with a power jet under pressure and a device for influencing the Has a directional orientation of the jet that can be emitted into the interior of the water basin,
characterized,
that the inner courtyard (5) is formed between two walls (5a, 5b) which run essentially parallel to one another,
which walls form a flat channel in the flow direction, which has an outlet opening (11) downstream,
the clear height of the flat channel being essentially determined by the clear height which is formed at the power beam passage opening of the mouth of the supply nozzle (4),
which flat channel is laterally delimited by walls (9, 9a) which connect laterally to the supply nozzle (4),
and at least one control channel (13, 13a) opens into the inner courtyard (5) to the side of the supply nozzle (4),
through which control channel (13, 13a) a determinable amount of fluid (air) can be fed to the inner courtyard (5), whereby both the directional orientation of the power jet and at least partially the mixture formation can be determined. (Fig. 1,2,3,) Hydromassage nozzle (1) for producing a water-air mixture and for irradiating the same into a sanitary water basin, the hydromassage nozzle has a nozzle housing and an inner courtyard is formed inside the nozzle housing, into which inner courtyard a supply duct with a supply nozzle opens, and the inner courtyard has a ventilation opening , which is in flow communication with the atmosphere, through which ventilation opening the power jet which can be emitted from the supply nozzle can be supplied with air for the purpose of forming a mixture of water and air, the hydromassage nozzle having a pressure the applied power jet can be supplied and has a device for influencing the directional orientation of the jet that can be emitted into the interior of the water basin,
characterized,
that the inner courtyard (5) is formed between two walls (5a, 5b) which run essentially parallel to one another,
which walls form a flat channel in the flow direction, which has an outlet opening (11) downstream,
the clear height of the flat channel being essentially determined by the clear height which is formed at the power beam passage opening of the mouth of the supply nozzle (4),
which flat channel is laterally delimited by walls (9, 9a) which connect laterally to the supply nozzle (4),
and at least one of the walls (9, 9a) provided to the side of the flat channel has a swirl chamber (43), into which swirl chamber a drain channel (45) connects, which drain channel has a control valve (22),
through which drain channel (45) a determinable amount of fluid can be removed from the swirl chamber (43)
and downstream of the swirl chamber (43) there is a ventilation line (23) opening into the flow channel (10).
(Fig. 5) Hydromassage nozzle (1) for producing a water-air mixture and for irradiating the same into a sanitary water basin, the hydromassage nozzle has a nozzle housing and an inner courtyard is formed inside the nozzle housing, into which inner courtyard a supply duct with a supply nozzle opens, and the inner courtyard has a ventilation opening , which is in flow communication with the atmosphere, through which ventilation opening the power jet that can be emitted from the supply nozzle can be supplied with air for the purpose of forming a mixture of water and air, wherein the hydromassage jet can be supplied with a power jet under pressure and a device for influencing the Has a directional orientation of the jet that can be emitted into the interior of the water basin,
characterized,
that the inner courtyard (5) is formed between two walls (5a, 5b) which run essentially parallel to one another,
which walls form a flat channel in the flow direction, which has an outlet opening (11) downstream,
the clear height of the flat channel being essentially determined by the clear height which is formed at the power beam passage opening of the mouth of the supply nozzle (4),
which flat channel is laterally delimited by walls (9, 9a) which connect laterally to the supply nozzle (4),
and at least one control channel (13, 13a) opens into the inner courtyard (5) to the side of the supply nozzle (4),
through which control channel (13, 13a) a determinable amount of fluid (water) can be fed to the inner courtyard (5), whereby the directional orientation of the power jet can be determined,
and downstream of the mouth of the control channel (13, 13a) there is a ventilation line (23) opening into the outflow channel (10). Hydromassage nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in
that the switching element (UE) has at least one secondary channel (41, 41a) branching off from the flow channel (10), which secondary channel connects the downstream region of the switching element (UE) to the upstream region of the switching element and the mouth of the secondary channel in the region of the Neighboring the supply nozzle (4) is arranged. (Fig. 4) Hydromassage nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized,
that the inner courtyard (5) has two partial areas (I, II), in each of which partial areas a bulge (8,8a) is formed, the course of the walls (9,9a) of the bulges (8,8a) being essentially mirror images are, and the end edges (19, 19a) of the walls (9, 9a) possibly together with other side walls surrounding the inner courtyard, which form the outlet opening (11). Hydromassage nozzle according to claim 1 or 4 to 5, characterized in
that between two supply nozzles (4) provided in parallel in the flow direction of the power jet, a further control channel opens centrally into the inner courtyard (5) and through this central control channel and through the control channels (13, 13a) provided on the side of the supply nozzle (4) the inner courtyard ( 5) a determinable amount of fluid (air) can be supplied in each case by individual supply or by joint supply of these control channels (central, 13, 13a), as a result of which both the mixture formation and the directional orientation of the power jet can be determined. Method for switching the directional orientation of a jet which can be emitted from a hydromassage nozzle according to Claim 1 or 3 to 6, characterized in that
that the switching of the jet orientation is carried out by supplying a pneumatic or hydraulic control pulse from the outside to a switching element (UE), which is located within the nozzle housing (2) and has an influencing zone (I, II), through a control channel (central, 13, 13a) . A method for switching the directional orientation of a jet which can be emitted from a hydromassage nozzle according to one of Claims 1 or 2 or 4 to 6 ,
that the beam orientation is switched over by in the area of the outlet nozzle (11) of the inner courtyard (5) a pulse which can be emitted by the power jet at this point into the upstream area of the switching element (UE) by means of at least one provided flow channel (41, 41a, 45) leads back. Method for switching the directional orientation of a jet that can be emitted from a hydromassage nozzle according to claim 2, characterized in that
that the switching of the beam orientation takes place by dividing the power beam by a provided beam splitter and circulating the subset divided by the power beam either continuously in a swirl chamber (43) or through a drain pipe (45) provided with a control valve (22) into the supply line (31) returns, wherein the control valve (22) is actuated into its open position for the purpose of returning the partial quantity divided off from the power beam. Hydromassage nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized,
that at least the surrounding walls (9, 9a) of the inner courtyard (5) with the bulge (s) (8, 8a), the opening (13), the outlet opening (11) and the outflow channel (14) with the outlet opening ( 15) designed as a one-piece component and held by means of an anchoring device (16) connected to the nozzle housing (2), but which can be rotated or pivoted.

Images